Evening

Rating:
Summary: Bookjacket was misleading
Review: From the bookjacket I was sure I would find this book an interesting and enjoyable read. However, I never seemed to be able to become engrossed in the novel-which for me is a sign of a first-rate book. Most importantly, the main character, Ann Lord, never came alive for me and I couldn't connect to her and thus didn't feel anything for her as she reflected on her past and during her current battle with a terminal illness. Also, I found the writing style and form to be confusing. There was too much jumping around between past and present in the chapters causing me to have to stop reading and figure out if Ann was in the past or present.

Rating:
Summary: Beuatiful heart-breaking story
Review: I loved Minot's slow unveiling of the love story at the center of her novel. Highly recommended read

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I wouldn't say this book was horrible. I admit I read it very quickly. But, it failed by a long shot to live up to some of the glowing reviews it received. Character development is pretty minimal. The characters are all pretty interchangable. And the story itself is rather undeveloped. Some might argue that was intentional, part of the book's style. I'd argue the author used a style, which often shifts into free-verse poetry, to avoid the hard work of writing a better book. I mean, even the most cold-hearted person I think would give more thought to her son's premature death as she lies on her own deathbed. Minot tries to show the subtle emotional lives of rich waspy types who appear cold on the surface. But she ends up making them look rather cold to the core.

Rating:
Summary: Flawed but powerful
Review: Took me a while to get the rythmn of this book. While I at first found much of the stream-of-consciousness writing labored and self-conscious, I appreciated what she was trying to accomplish. Takes courage to try something different. I often grew impatient with the delayed Harris/Ann story, spread out across too many pages.

But the last third made me a believer in this writer, whose prose takes on real power when she gets to the meat that drove her to this book. Gutsy stuff written with tremendous insight and heart. It's flawed, yeah, but its sustained power and final tour de force made it well worth the ride. Rock on, Minot. A beautiful book. Turn that power to another.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written--I couldn't put it down
Review: This is the most beautifully written novel I have read. I was swept into it from the first page. Usually I get confused when there are frequent time changes but Ms. Minot's style was very clear and easy to follow. I loved the use of the stream-of-conscious thoughts. I did not find the absence of punctuation a problem. In fact, I thought it added a great deal to the style. The novel flowed as I imagine the thoughts of a dying person, drifting in and out of consciousness, would. I enjoyed how Ms. Minot did not beat you over the head with the "point" of her story, how I was encouraged to make my own decisions about Harris being Ann's one true love, about the choices she made in life and love. The story was beautifully written and Susan Minot inspires me yet again to work on my own writing. I enjoyed it even more than "Monkeys" and "Lust", both of which I loved.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't quite make it
Review: I felt that this book could have been reduced to a long poem, especially in regards to the way it was written. I usually like "stream of conciousness" narratives, (like Mrs. Dalloway by Virgina Woolf) but the long, long narratives in "Evening" seemed too forced, overdone and repetitive. I kept wondering just what it was about Harris Arden that kept Ann enthralled throughout her life, but I never found the answer. It was hard to believe that there was more to their brief affair than some clandestine body contact while outside on a cold night.

And why did the author bring up the death of Ann's son several times, but only fleetingly, if she was never going to resolve it or tell us what really happened?

By the end of this book, I was skipping large chunks of the never-ending non-punctuated sentences, hoping for some resolution somewhere, some clue that it was worth it, that this woman had any kind of a life worth living, but it never came. The "longest" short book I've read in awhile.

Rating:
Summary: Irritating to read
Review: It had potential to be a good book given the storyline, but where are the punctuation marks? I know the author was trying to establish a certain lyricism, but I think one can accomplish that with quotation marks. I had to read lines over and over, particularly after a long day at work. Additionally, it was "cut up." I personally do not enjoy books that shift from past to present throughout the entire book. Not a satisfying read for those wanting a smooth ride.

Rating:
Summary: "Evening" weaves a spell...
Review: "Evening" is a soft lyrical journey into regret and lost love, weaving its spell with an exquisite use of language and form. Susan Minot gives us a precious glimpse into possibilities we daughters never dare to imagine about our mothers.

Rating:
Summary: Great book with a refreshing, unique approach to the story
Review: Thoroughly enjoyed! I appreciated the author's approach and did NOT find it "cut up". Hated to finish this story. Look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.

Rating:
Summary: An exceptional work of lyricism and sensuality.
Review: Suan Minot takes the reader on a journey into the inner life of passion, the nuances that hold powerful meaning and the chance encounters that spell eternity. Her descriptions are delicately unfolded and the characters are gently revealed. There is a touch of the poetic on almost every page, and a lingering of dreamlike observation. Her dialogue is superb, whether realistic or imbued with the hopes and desires of the speakers. This is a powerfully sensual work wrought by master writer.